Sack tongs



Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

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CALVIN A. MESSINGER, OF LANARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR O13 ONE-HALF TO EDWARD S. NICHOLAS. OF LANARK. ILLINGIS.

SACK TON GS.

Application filed May 12,

'1 '0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN A. Mnssrn'enn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lanark, in the county of Carroll and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sack Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates. to sack tongs. Its primary object to provide an improved carrier having handles that grip and hold heavy sacks or packages, so that they can he more easily handled. Another object of my invention is to provide a light, strong carrier that will grip and hold sacks of cement,

' plaster, flour, sugar and other material coinnionly handled in sacks. A further object is to provide a device that is simple in con struction, easy to manufacture, and that will grip and hold filled sacks and packages of ditlerent sizes. Still another object is to provide a pair of tongs that will release a filled sack or package from its jaws at the will of the operator.

With the foregoing objects in view, my invention consists, generally stated, in a device of the class mentioned, comprising a substantially rectangular frame having handles on each end of it, and a pair of rightangled levers which extend to each side of the frame, being pivoted to the frame at its center. A pair of J-shaped circularly bent jaws are pivoted to the shorter legs of said levers. These jaws extend from the end of the short levers to below the frame. They may be opened or closed by operating the levers to which they are pivoted. The longer legs of the levers lie substantially parallel with the frame when the jaws are closed. These levers are about the same length as the frame. Each side is provided with a handle which is parallel with the handles on the frame, when the jaws are closed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure'l, is a side elevation of a sack tongs embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the sack tongs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the above mentioned frame consists of two parallel bars C, C, united by transverse rods N, N, and I, the former of which extend through the handles A. These rods pass through holes in the bars C, O, and are two handles in the left hand.

1924-. Serial No. 712,655.

riveted at the ends. The red I at the center of the fran'ie is used as a shaft upon which the iell-crank levers E, E, and D, D, oscillate. l"hese legs of these levers are at right angles, one leg being longer than the other. hey are united in pairs. The levers D, I), are united by a transverse rod through the handles 13. This rod passes through holes in l), D,end is riveted at the ends. A rod and handle unite the levers E, E, in the same manner. When the longer leg of levers D, l) and E, E, lie along the frame C, C, the handles B, B, are parallel and close to the handles A, A. In carrying a load a man grasps two handles in the right hand and These levers are spaced on the shaft I by washers L. The levers D, l), are positioned close to the frame members C, C, while the lovers E, E, are positioned at the inner side of the levers l), D, on the shaft 1.

The side bars of the frame C, C, are drawn inward near each end, making the handles A, A, and B, B, the same size and length. The frame C, C, is bent downward from the center towarr each end. The levers E, E, and D, D, lay nearly parallel with the frame by this construction. The letters F and G designate U-shaped jaws, the lower ends of which are below the frame and free to grapple a filled sack or package. Each jaw has two sides and is bent into an arcuate shape to receive the side of a bag. The upper ends of each jaw are connected by pivots M to the short legs of a pair of levers. The jaw F is united to the pair of levers D, D, and the jaw G is united to the pair of levers E, E. Each side of each jaw passes through guides on the rods H, H. Rollers K, K, K, K, and loops J, J, J, J, on the rods H, H, provide guides for each side of the jaws. The jaws work freely through the loops. These guides direct the path of each jaw and strengthens it in carrying a load.

To operate this device raise the longer leg of both levers to a vertical position. This opens the jaws below the frame. Lay the tongs on a sack of cement or plaster across the middle of the sack. Pull down the longer leg of each lever until it is parallel with the frame, thus closing the jaws around the sack. Grasp the handles on the right end of the device in the right hand. Grasp the handles on the left end in the left hand.

The weight may then be carried in both hands, one end of the sack or package resting against the body. To discharge the load, release the levers and hold the handles on the frame. The jaws will open and drop the load by gravity, free from the tongs.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having a handle at each end, two pairs of movable L-shaped levers which oscillate on a central transverse rod of said frame, and two U-shaped jaws pivotally hung from the end of the shorter leg of said levers, the jaws extending below the fi ame.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the frame comprises parallel members joined by transverse rods and having handles at each end of the frame.

3 A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the frame is rectangular and bent downward from its center towards the ends, and each end of the side members is bent inward and united at the end by a handle.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the frame has a shaft transversely through its center and upon which the levers and jaws are pivoted.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame provided with a centrally located transverse shaft, four right angle levers mounted to oscillate on said shaft, said levers being united in pairs by handles at the end of the longer legs, one pair of levers having a handle at one end of the device and the other pair of levers having a handle at the opposite end, and movable jaws to which the shorter legs of said levers are united.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which the frame is provided with a transverse shaft centrally located, upon which shaft said leversare mounted to oscillate.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5, including means for spacing the pairs of levers on the shaft by washers, one pair near the ends of the shaft and the other pair near the center of the shaft.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which said levers are pivoted on a shaft on the frame, the shorter leg of each lever being pivotally connected to one side of a jaw which depends from the lever below the frame.

9. In a device of the class described, a rectangular frame provided with a cross shaft, two pairs of right angled levers having;- short and long arms and pivoted on said shaft at the juncture of said arms, one pair being for each end of said frame and being joined by a handle, and two U-shaped jaws each pivoted to the short legs of said levers, the jaws on one end being pivoted to the pair of levers the handle of which is at the opposite end of the device.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9, in which each jaw has two sides and each side of the jaw is piv ted to a short leg of a lever, and each jaw being curved and bent in wardly in the form of a circle.

11. A. device as set forth in claim 9, in which each side of the U-shaped jaw passes through a guide on the frame, through which it freely moves.

]2. A device as set forth in claim 9, in which said guides include rollers for engaging one side of the jaws and means for engaging the opposite side of the jaws to hold them in operative relation to the rollers.

CALVIN A. MESSINGER 

